Beirut nightlife grinds to a halt

Once upon a time Beirut was the Middle East's nightlife capital. Party-goers from the region, as well as Europeans, headed to the city to enjoy its hedonistic nightlife culture where raving from Friday to Monday was nothing unusual.

"Two or three well-known international artists played every weekend," explained Rea, a Lebanese DJ and producer. Fees for artists could reach upwards of $100,000 (€88,000) as Beirut competed with Gulf party hub Dubai to book the biggest names.

But since 2019, residents of the city have been reeling from a financial crisis that has seen the Lebanese pound lose over 90% of its value in two years – propelling three-quarters of the country's population of approximately 6.7 million into poverty.

The nightlife industry has also had to contend with political instability, a huge explosion at the city's port on 4 August 2020 that killed over 200 people and caused extensive damage, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through it all, the club managers, DJs, producers and party-goers who comprise Beirut's nightlife have been determined to keep the party spirit alive. "Partying is one of the only outlets from thinking about [the political and financial] bulls***t, from drowning day by day," Raed al-Halabi, the manager of one of Beirut's remaining nightclubs, Ballroom Blitz, admitted.

Nurturing homegrown talent

Ballroom Blitz is one of only two main electronic music-focused clubs that have survived the turmoil of the past years. Meanwhile, Beirut music institutions The Garden and Grand Factory were damaged in last year's port explosion and have not re-opened since.

Ballroom Blitz once booked international names "to try and introduce new sounds to a Lebanese audience," Raed explained, referring to Kode9, a Scottish DJ and Hyperdub label founder, and Afrodeutsche, a UK-based composer, producer and DJ.

But due to the falling local currency, the club is now unable to pay the fees required by international artists.

This has forced club management to return to its original plan of being a cultural institute – the club recently received funding from the Beirut-based Arab Fund for Arts and Culture to support local DJs and producers as part of an artist residency programme. "We have a gap as we can't import talent," Raed explained. "So it's very important to work on the talent we have here now."

Although several clubs have re-opened recently, the cost of entry and other related expenses of a night out have become prohibitively expensive for many Beirut residents, even with international artists left off the bill.

International students or NGO workers paid in U.S. dollars are among the few who can afford to attend, explained Beirut-based DJ Mira Barbara, who goes by the name Duchesse.

House party revival

There has also been a revival of house parties, which provide a cheaper alternative for those struggling financially, according to Elie Aoun, a producer, DJ and one half of Beirut's Hypnotic Ltd music label, who goes by the name Lio.

It remains important to try and make parties accessible for all people because "rave culture started with oppressed people," Lio explains. "We need this clash of cultures [at parties]."

In a bid to help out people hit by the financial crisis and coronavirus pandemic, Ballroom Blitz has also hosted the charity project, the Great Oven, which provides food for poorer communities.

Ongoing challenges fuel exodus

While Beirut's struggling nightlife sector has sought innovative solutions, some of have not been able to overcome the challenges related to ongoing instability.

With some DJs now performing wedding sets to make money, according to Lio, well-established local artists are leaving Lebanon.

"Many DJ have moved to Dubai and Egypt, some have got 9-5 jobs in other Arab countries," Rea explained.

Lio himself is planning on leaving. "In Europe, you can think about what you want to do," he said, adding that he would be able to plan for the future overseas. He has his sights set on Barcelona. His record label partner has already moved to the Spanish city.

Rea is also considering moving on, saying that she felt producing music in the city would be traumatic after her newly-built production studio was wiped out in the port blast. Even though thick velvet curtains installed for soundproofing saved the room from being covered in broken glass, much of the equipment was destroyed and now she says she has no motivation "to fix anything".

While trying to organise an event a few months earlier, Rea said that the preparations were interrupted by protesters burning tyres and blocking roads, as well as fuel shortages and electricity cuts. "We were going to give up," she said.

Yet they decided to continue due to the "sense of freedom" that it provided.

Community solidarity is key

The idea is to show that "we still exist, we're still here," Rea added. "Since everyone lost a lot, it has motivated us to come together and unite." Rea stressed that such community solidarity was key in a country that had experienced so much division.

On 14 October, street violence in Beirut killed at least six people, stirring memories of the country's 15-year sectarian civil war that ended in 1990.

"It's been a very community-driven year" for those in the nightlife industry, said Ballroom Blitz manager Raed. His aim is no longer to make money, "because there isn't any". But he wants his club to stay open because he "loves this place," he added. "It has brought people together and brings a lot to the country."

Kate Martyr

© Deutsche Welle 2021